Baseball Facilities

The facilities at the disposal of Chemeketa baseball players continue to evolve into some of the best the Northwest has to offer at any level.

Over the past several years, the Storm coaching staff and players have fund-raised to renovate and improve the facilities from the ground up.

First came bringing the homerun fence back into orbit. Gone are the days of the 354-foot foul lines and 395 gaps. In replacement is a cozy, 325-365-380 ballpark that looks and plays like the best.

The team renovated the on-field locker room nestled under the first base grandstands. Twenty-five open-faced wood lockers were built and new carpet installed to create one of the most professional collegiate baseball locker rooms today. A training room complete with ice machine, showers and laundry facilities are also tucked within the locker room.

Just about every aspect of the playing surface was awarded some sort of reconstruction, whether it is the infield grass reconditioned, the mound and plate rebuilt or the grass lips erased.

The Storm's also have a state-of-the art indoor facility, located adjacent to the first base dugout. The "Hack Shack" is a 40 x 80-foot fully lighted barn with two indoor batting tunnels, artificial turf flooring, one dirt mound and the stigma of college baseball itself: grabbing a bat or a ball and working at improving your game.

The hitting and pitching barn has allowed Chemeketa to alter its philosophy in the fall season, which lasts for nearly a month and a half from September until November. With the luxury of having such a premier indoor facility for when the Oregon weather turns wet in the winter, Chemeketa takes advantage of the dry fall season and plays nearly 20 games.

When the confines of the spacious "Hack Shack" just aren't enough, the Storm marches inside to one of the finest gymnasiums in the NWAACC. Chemeketa prides itself on athletics and the volleyball, men's and women's basketball teams are among the best in Oregon and Washington. So is the gymnasium.

An indoor batting tunnel drops from the ceiling and the expansive hardwood floor fits an entire infield configuration. The length of the gym enables Storm baseball players to play catch up to 160 feet, plenty long enough during the winter to keep the throwing arm in shape.

Updated October 2006 by the College Advancement Department.